Illinois House passes concealed carry measure

Illinois House passes concealed carry measure

The Illinois House of Representatives passed a measure allowing concealed carrying of firearms in the state regardless of local ordinances.

Senate Bill 2193 allows licensed gun owners to carry concealed handguns and ammunition in Illinois. Under the law, state police would issue permits to carry loaded guns to people over 21 years of age who pass 16 hours of training and pay $150 for a permit that is valid for five years.

The names and personal information of people who apply for or receive the permits would not be publicly available under the Freedom of Information Act.

The measure also bans carrying guns in some locations, including on public transit vehicles, in schools, hospitals, stadiums, college campuses, taverns and playgrounds.

The bill also eliminates local bans and taxes on certain weapons and ammunition. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn says the bill oversteps crucial gun safety laws such as Chicago’s ban on assault weapons, and he has vowed to “stop it in its tracks.”

Supporters say the law brings Illinois in line with the rest of the country on the issue of concealed carry, and eliminates conflicts for legal gun owners traveling from one jurisdiction to another within the state.

SB 2193 passed the Illinois House with a vote of 85 in favor of the measure and 30 votes against, with one member voting “present.” Senator Mike Jacobs, (D)-Moline, is among the bill’s sponsors.

The bill now moves on to the Illinois Senate.

Illinois is the only state without any established concealed carry law in effect. The state has until June 9 to comply with a federal court order mandating passage of a law concerning concealed carry.